UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Applications are now open for the spring 2027 cohort of the Faculty Affairs Residency program (FAR), a semester-long opportunity designed to engage Penn State faculty in high-impact institutional work that supports faculty success and advances key University priorities.
Applications are due April 17.
Offered through the Office of Faculty Affairs and the Center for Faculty Development and Advancement (CFDA), the Faculty Affairs Residency provides participants with hands-on experience in the strategic and operational work of academic administration. Unlike traditional fellowships or shadowing opportunities, FAR is structured as a working residency in which faculty contribute directly to institutional initiatives while building leadership capacity.
For the upcoming cycle, the program will expand through a formal collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Education, creating new opportunities for residents to engage in cross-unit work that connects faculty development with student success priorities.
Residents will contribute to a range of strategic project areas, including:
- Academic integrity
- Building strong academic unit culture
- Data-centered program assessment
- Data-empowered learning
- Honorifics and external awards
- Promotion and tenure modernization
- Undergraduate research
- COACHE strategy implementation
These projects reflect shared areas of impact and are designed to generate tangible outcomes, including policy recommendations, program development, and system-level improvements.
“The Faculty Affairs Residency offers a unique opportunity for faculty to contribute meaningfully to institutional priorities while gaining insight into how academic systems operate,” said Ann Clements, associate vice provost for Faculty Affairs and director of the CFDA. “This collaboration with Undergraduate Education further strengthens the program by connecting faculty development work directly to student learning and success.”
Selected residents will receive a one-course buyout during the spring 2027 semester. The program is open to full-time Penn State faculty at the second rank or higher with at least five consecutive years of faculty experience.
Additional details are available on the Faculty Affairs Residency webpage on the CFDA website.